Cycling Races

01 July 2016

A total of €2,295,850 million euros will be awarded at the 2016 Tour de France. That is almost €650 for every mile ridden in the race. Every year fans want to know, "How much do they make for winning the Tour de France?" Prize money can be quite good, especially for the rider who retains the yellow jersey for many stages in a row and wins the overall race. A rider such as Chris Froome, who has the potential to win the overall race (€500,000), win 1 mountain stage (€11,000) and perhaps stay in the yellow jersey for 8 out of the 21 stages (€4000), has the potential to win approximately €515,000.

Current World Champion Peter Sagan is said to be looking for 4-6 million, per year, for his next team contract.

Team Sky earned a total of €556,630 ($619,139) during the 2015 Tour de France; the vast majority of that sum earned by Chris Froome who won both the yellow and the polka-dot jersey. In contrast, the sixty team members of the Denver Broncos each earned a $102,000 (€91,734) bonus for winning the 2016 Super Bowl ($6,120,000 combined), and Wimbledon awarded £1,888,000 ($2,575,798) to the two (male and female) winners.

The Tour de France remains the most lucrative professional bike race on the calendar, not only for the amount earned at the race but for the potential of later team sponsorships and individual promotions. Each team splits the earnings from the Tour de France, offering each of the nine team members a split, plus the mechanics, soigneurs and bus drivers.

Every rider who participates in the Tour de France receives a money prize. The cash reward drops steeply from the 1st place rider but every rider from 20th place on, including the last placed rider (lanterne rouge) will receive €1000 for participating in the 2016 Tour de France.

New for 2016, the Most Aggressive jersey award will take into consideration the growing impact of Social Media. One vote on the panel of "cycling experts" will be considered from the fans voting for the most deserving rider on the stage.

Winners / Classifications / Leaders

Classification Jerseys of the Tour de France, jerseys provided by Le Coq Sportif:

Yellow Jersey prize for the Tour de France: The yellow jersey (overall leader, le leader du classement général au temps, Le Maillot Jaune) will win €500,000 at the end of the tour, but an additional €552,000 will be awarded throughout the three-week stage race to total €1,002,000 for the total yellow jersey prize purse alone. Every day a rider wears the yellow jersey they receive a monetary award. Yes it is tradition that the yellow jersey winner divides his final €450.000 among his eight teammates. The overall yellow jersey winner also receives a trophy black bowl) on the podium during the final presentation in Paris. The yellow jersey is sponsored by LLC (financial services).

Prize money for a single day in the yellow jersey will be €500 in 2016.

The winner of the yellow jersey in 2015 was Chris Froome.

Many of us recognize the coiled Giro d'Italia trophy but how many of us have paid attention the to Tour de France trophy bowl? It is actually quite nice looking close up.

Chris Froome and the Tour de France Trophy bowl. Photo from http://wtop.com.

Prize for Green Jersey - Tour de France

Green Jersey prize for the Tour de France: The green jersey (points winner, classement par points, Le maillot vert) will win €25,000 at the end of the tour, but an additional €103,000 will be awarded throughout the three-week stage race to total €128,000 for the total green jersey prize purse. The green jersey is sponsored by Skoda (cars).

Every day a rider wears the green jersey they receive a monetary award. Prize money for a single day in the green jersey will be €300 at the 2016 Tour de France.

Prize money is also awarded daily at each intermediate sprint marker, the winner gets €1,500, second place €1,000 and third place €500.

The green jersey in 2015 was won by Peter Sagan (for the fourth year in a row!).

Prize for Polka-dot Jersey - Tour de France

Polka-dot Jersey prize for the Tour de France: The polka- dot jersey (mountain / classement de la montagne, Le maillot à pois) will win €25,000 at the end of the tour, but an additional €103,000 will be awarded throughout the three-week stage race to total €128,000 for the total polka-dot jersey prize purse. The polka-dot jersey is sponsored by Carrefour (market).

Every day a rider wears the mountain jersey they receive a monetary award. Prize money for a single day in the polka-dot jersey will be €300 at the 2016 Tour de France.

Special climbing bonus awards given during the 2016 Tour de France:

Three different €5,000 bonus awards will be paid out to the first rider to the top of three designated climbs. The first rider during Stage 8 to reach the Souvenir Jacques Goddet on Col du Tourmalet will win €5,000. During Stage 10 the highest point of the race will be reached on Port d’Envalira (2,408m) and the first rider to the top will earn the Souvenir Henri Desgrange award of €5,000. The final Prix Bernard Hinault will be awarded to the fastest rider on Stage 18 during the short 2.5km Cote de Domancy climb included in the individual time trial, earning the final €5,000 bonus of le tour.

The best climber in 2015 was Chris Froome.

Prize for White Jersey - Tour de France

White Jersey prize for the Tour de France: The white jersey (mountain / Le maillot blanc) will win €25,000 at the end of the tour, but an additional €40,000 will be awarded throughout the three-week stage race to total €65,000 for the total white jersey prize purse. The white jersey is sponsored by Krys (optical).

Best Young Rider jersey prizes on the final podium of the Tour de France 2016:
1st - €20,000
2nd - €15,000
3rd - €10,000

Every day a rider wears the white jersey they receive a monetary award. Prize money for a single day in the white jersey will be €300 at the 2016 Tour de France.

The best young rider in 2015 was Nairo Quintana.

More Awards

Prize for Best Team - Tour de France

Best Team prize for the Tour de France: The best team (Le classement par équipes) will win €50,000 at the end of the tour, but an additional €128,000 will be awarded throughout the three-week stage race to total €178,000 for the total best team prize purse. Every day a team remains at the top of the leader board for the best team they receive a monetary award. The best team is sponsored by RAGT Semences (grains).

Every day a team earns or remains at the top of the best team ranking they receive a monetary award. Prize money for a single day as the best team will be €2800 at the 2016 Tour de France.

The top team in 2015 was Movistar.

Prize for Most Aggressive - Tour de France

Most Aggressive prize for the Tour de France: The rider who demonstrates braveness, an attacking spirit and fair play during the stage (Le Prix de la combativité) will win a daily prize from a total purse of €56,000, with the final super-combative rider chosen on the final stage earning €20,000 at the end of the tour. Every day a different most combative rider is chosen after the stage. The prize is sponsored by Antargaz (gasoline) and symbolized by a red dossard (bib number).

Starting in 2016, fans will have the opportunity to vote through Social Media for their choice for Most Aggressive rider (Twitter: @LeTour #TDF2016 and Facebook: facebook.com/letour ). Fans' vote will count as 1 vote on a jury together with former riders, American Greg Le Mond and Frenchman Laurent Jalabert, plus two journalists and Tour de France race director Thierry Gouvenou. Should the voting end in a tie, Gouvenou will have the deciding say.

Super-Combative Rider prizes on the final podium of the Tour de France 2016: Final award - €20,000

Every day a rider is awarded the most combative award they receive a monetary award. Prize money for a single day in the red dossard will be €2000 at the 2016 Tour de France.

Romain Bardet won the final super-combative award in 2015.

Prize for Stage wins - Tour de France

The winner of each stage is awarded a prize of €11,000. Second place on the stage wins €5,500 and third place €2,800. Prize money is awarded down to 20th place on each stage, with 20th place earning €300. The youngest rider (under age 25) with the highest placing on each day's stage also earns an additional €500 for the day.

André Greipel won the most stage wins, four different stage wins, during the 2015 Tour de France. Chris Froome won only 1 stage.

Prize for every rider in the Tour de France

Every rider who participates in the Tour de France is guaranteed at least €1000 for participation plus they are each awarded a medal; given to the riders prior to the start of the race.

Time bonuses in the Tour de France

Time bonuses are awarded at the end of every mass-start stage (i.e. no time bonuses on offer in individual and team time trials). The first three riders get 10, 6 and 4 seconds, respectively.

Prize money in case of Disqualification

With regard to prizes, the results of a positive anti-doping control test are as follows: • any competitor declared positive following a given stage shall forego all earnings obtained during this stage. • any competitor disqualified from the race shall forego all earnings and prizes acquired from the day of the control test in question.

RULES OF THE RACE

Powerbar sponsors the stage wins

Stage Victory

Stage victories: The 21 stage victories will be been sponsored by Powerbar. Stage victories are simply the fist man over the line, or the man with the fastest time on the stage (individual time trials).

Classifications, Sponsors, and the rules

Riders must finish the Tour de France in order to appear in the best classification ranking.

LCL sponsors the yellow jersey

Yellow Jersey

Will be awarded daily, worn by the leader of the general individual time classification. The general individual time ranking is established by adding together the times achieved by each rider in the 21 stages including time penalties. In the event of a tie in the general ranking, the hundredth of a second recorded by the timekeepers during the individual time trial stages will be included in the total times in order to decide the overall winner. The Yellow Jersey has been sponsored by LCL since 1987.

Skoda sponsors the green jersey

Green Jersey

Will be awarded daily, worn by the leader of the points classification. There is only one intermediate sprint on each stage, with number of points tied to difficulty. The one intermediate sprint marker is now (as of 2011) worth more points for the leading riders. Together with points earned at the final stage finish line, all points are tallied daily to determine the overall "Points Leader" or green jersey wearer. The Green Jersey has been sponsored by Skoda since 2015.

The individual points ranking is obtained by adding together the points recorded in the individual rankings for each stage, according to the following tables, and taking into account penalty points: •for the stages with no particular difficulty (art. 22-coeff. 1): 50-30-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-7-6-5- 4-3 and 2 points for the first 15 riders to finish; •for the “medium mountain” in-line stages (art. 22-coeff. 2 and 3): 30, 25,22,19,17, 15,13,11,9,7,6,5,4,3 and 2 points for the first 15 riders to finish; •for the very difficult stages (art. 22-coeff. 3 and 4 and 5): 20,17,15,13,11,10,9,8,7, 6,5,4,3,2,1 points for the first 15 riders to finish. In the event of a dead heat in a stage finish, the riders are credited with the number of points they would receive, divided by the number of riders concerned. These points are then rounded up to the nearest ½ point: •for the individual time trial stage (art.22-coeff. 6 and 7): 20,17,15,13,11,10,9,8,7,6, 5,4,3,2,1 points to the first 15 riders to finish; •for each intermediate sprint, the first 15 riders to finish will receive 20,17,15,13,11,10,9, 8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 points respectively. The points are won on the intermediate sprints and at the stage.

Time bonuses in the Tour de France: Time bonuses are awarded at the end of every mass-start stage (i.e. no time bonuses on offer in individual and team time trials). The first three riders get 10, 6 and 4 seconds, respectively.

Carrefour sponsors the Polka-dot jersey

Red Polka Dot Jersey

Will be awarded daily, worn by the best climber. Points for the best climber classification are awarded at the top of any classified slope (not all climbs are classified). The prize money is doubled on the stage finishes that will take place at the summit of climbs. The general best climber ranking is established by adding together the points obtained on all passes and hills, according to the following tables: • “Highest level” passes: 25, 20, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 points respectively for first 10 riders to finish; • category 1 passes: 10,8,6,4,2,1 points respectively to the first 6 riders to finish ; • category 2 passes: 5,3,2,1 points respectively to the first 4 riders to finish; • category 3 passes or hills : 2, 1 points, respectively to the first 2 riders to finish; • category 4 passes: 1 point to the first rider to finish. Points awarded are doubled for finishing on the 9th, 12th, 17th and 19th stages. In the event of a tie between two riders in the general best climber ranking, the rider with the most first places at highest level pass summits is declared the winner. The Polka Dot Jersey is sponsored by Carrefour.

Krys sponsors the white jersey

White Jersey

Will be awarded daily, worn by the best young rider aged 25 years old or less (born since 1st January 1991) in the general individual time classification. The White jersey has been sponsored by Krys since 2015.

Antargaz sponsors the best team award

Best Team classification

This classification is determined by adding the times of the best three riders on each team after each stage. If there is a tie between teams in stage rankings, the three best places achieved in that stage by each team are added together. In case of a further tie, the teams are decided by the placing of their best rider in the stage. Any team reduced to fewer than three riders will be disqualified from the general team ranking. The current best team can wear yellow helmets during the following stage. The team classification is sponsored by RAGT Semences.

RAGT sponsors the most aggressive award

Most Aggressive

This is a subjective but inspiring award. This prize is awarded daily with one super-combative award given on the final stage in Paris.

22 May 2016

I was standing in the road near the start line of the Amgen Tour of California next to Darrell Parks, an incredible photographer working for Pez Cycling and Peloton who has become a friend to me and a smiling face at the tour. We were talking to Jamie, the humorous in-car announcer who drives the route of the Tour of California preceding the peloton to let fans out on the road know the situation coming at them. I have met Jamie every year, for six years. What I mean exactly is that I have introduced myself to Jamie six times anew.

Now put into perspective that gathering at a race like the Amgen Tour of California is a reunion of sorts. Once or twice a year I get to see really cool, highly resistant, impressively energetic, honest yet positive folks who love the sport of cycling. We collect as a group to either administer or report on the race. We all know each other; from the officials to the marshals, motos, security, staff, photogs, journalists, key staff, team staff and me. We come from across the country and from overseas to do our best to present an excellent race in hopes that it will continue.

So how is it that I am still introducing myself?

Because it is normal. You see, I have this knack for remembering people. I can remember exactly where I met them, the entire setting behind them, and what we spoke of. I notice all the details and never forget a face or a story. Sometimes I embarrass myself by blurting out the location and details of our first meeting only to be met with a glazed response clearly indicating - I have no idea who you are.

So this week when a fan wrote to me with the opening sentence "You probably don't remember me, but I was watching the Tour of California stage 1, here in San Diego with my Norwegian friends. We met you when you photographed me, my friend and the rider Alexander Kristoff." Remember you - of course I remember you - you were a highlight of my day, I responded. And they truly were.

You never know what will happen at a bike race. This is my creed, which not only applies to the battle on the road within and in front of the peloton, but to the experience of being a fan at the race. Just show up, give it your best and let the magic happen. For the young students from Norway who brought their large red white and blue Norwegian flag to Stage 1 in San Diego, California, with the hopes of seeing their favorite rider, unplanned magic indeed happened.

Of course I remember you!

I had spotted the colorful photo op and approached them in a friendly manner. In utter excitement they explained to me, "We came because maybe we will get to see Kristoff, he is a really big deal in Norway." By the time they took a next breath, out of the Katusha team RV stepped Alexander Kristoff. "Hi I'm Alex," he proclaimed as if we did not know the man who was now standing two feet in front of us. What is the sound of dropped jaws and exhaling in utter amazement? Well that was all the three of us could muster as a response. Their dream was coming true and I was happy to be a part of it.

There we were the four of us, me snapping pictures and them talking a language I hadn't heard in quite some time. Within two minutes every Norwegian speaking fan in San Diego had miraculously gathered around Alex. I could tell he was almost as amazed as me at the number of Norwegians now chatting away while swarming him for selfies. This week I sent Andreas, the young Norwegian student who had contacted me, ten photos taken of his minutes with Alexander Kristoff in San Diego. He responded, "There were so many nice pictures here, and this moment is something I will remember forever."

After Alexander Kristoff stepped back into the team RV, the young Norwegian girl turned to me with her hand outstretched, showing me she was physically shaking from the surprising experience. Kristoff was indeed a big deal in Norway, but in that moment on the pavement of a parking lot near a watery bay in California, Kristoff had been a really big deal to two students studying far from home.

People make a bike race, no matter where the memories are made and with whom. Whether I am meeting a new fan for the first time, an old friend, or reintroducing myself for the sixth time, all that matters is they made a special moment happen and they give me the courage to get out and make more.

"this moment is something I will remember forever."

Alexander Kristoff

The ability to make memories and win bike races - Alexander Kristoff, winner of yesterday's Stage 7 of the Amgen Tour of California.

19 May 2016

That long title is the official name for the women's race at the Tour of California. Just as Amgen supports the Breakaway from Cancer walk at stages of the tour for those affected by cancer and has attached their name in fighting cancer with the men's race, the company also develops pharmaceuticals for heart disease. Amgen works to alleviate the impact of the leading causes of death to both men and women. And so sponsoring a women's race in the name of fighting heart disease and improving health in the general population makes perfect sense.

SRAM is also a title sponsor of the women's race, which is not just kind but good business. The numbers of women in cycling and amateur racing is growing. The likelihood of a women walking into a bike shop to buy a bike is high, SRAM wants the consumer to know their name. Sponsorship is a balance of doing good in the community and wanting to get your product in front of the community. Through the involvement of both Amgen and SRAM, perhaps more young girls will be exposed riding a bike and a healthy lifestyle.

The highest level of women athletes in the sport of professional cycling are gathering today in Lake Tahoe to begin their four day bike race. It's a big deal and a large number of fans are expected. The women will race 197.8-miles during four-stages in South Lake Tahoe, Folsom (team time trial), Santa Rosa and Sacramento.

Amgen’s new Breakaway from Heart Disease initiative encourages Americans to take action to make heart health a priority. The campaign encourages people to use road bikes and stationary bikes to get active and heart healthy. At the race, female athletes will wear Breakaway from Heart Disease “I Heart” race numbers recognizing someone they love. For more information about the campaign and how to get involved, visit breakawayfromheartdisease.com.

Follow the Amgen Tour of California Men's Race and the Amgen Breakaway from Heart Disease Women's Race live on Microsoft Tour Tracker, the app that gives you in depth access and analysis of America's Greatest Race via the web or your mobile device. Whether you are out on the road, waiting at the finish line, or watching at home, you can keep track of the race Download the app. You can watch Microsoft TourTracker on the web.

12 May 2016

The rider startlist and bib numbers have been finalized and made available by ProCyclingStats.com, a day after quite a different startlist was released by Amgen Tour of California media personnel. Whomever starts on Sunday morning is now committed to ride their way to Sacramento (no more changing the roster!).

The official 2016 startlist of riders (rider roster, squads) has not yet been released by organizers of the Amgen Tour of California, but I got impatient because I am headed to the race tomorrow. However on the ProCyclingStats.com startlist of riders you can click on each name and see a photo of the rider and their palmares (the career race history), a great way to get familiar with who will be racing at the Tour of California.

​Through reading news reports and rider twitter accounts (some are already in California training pre race), I can add to the list of riders who will be racing in California at the 2016 Amgen Tour of California this week. ATOC typically leaves the announcement of the startlists until just before the start as teams formalize their squads having recovered from recent illnesses or races.

Team rider startlists

There will be a thrilling list of riders to compete in California this week. Tom Boonen is coming to California!! Julian Allaphilippe will be returning in 2016, he won the best young rider jersey in 2015 and won the stage to Mt Baldy. Peter Sagan is coming back with his teammate and brother Juraj Sagan. Mark Cavendish and Bradely Wiggins will both return in 2016. Team BMC has an action packed team, their red jerseys should be a frequent sight on the podium.

Because I am a huge fan of the Spring Classics I will be like a giddy fan to see Greg van Avermaet, John Degenkolb, Alexander Kristoff, Zdenek Stybar and Tom Boonen in California. I wouldn't be able to get anywhere near them in Belgium; which also stands true for Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins. I also look forward to watching the young Axeon Hagens Berman team and observing the French riders on Team Direct Energie enjoy their time in California. Although 'enjoy' is a loose term once they experience the tough level of competition in this tour.

Recommended Read: Preview: What you need to know about the 2016 Amgen Tour of California, by Neal Rogers. Who writes, "Sagan returns to the race that he’s done every year since 2010, along the way compiling a total of 13 stage wins (a record),five points jerseys (a record), one best young rider’s competition (2010), and one overall victory." "Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data), a nine-time California stage winner and two-time points classification winner."

It is tradition that the previous year's overall stage winner, if returning to the race in the current year, wear the #1 jersey. His team being recognized as the first team, thus wear #1-8. The other teams are ordered according to race organizers preference, eighteen teams total with eight riders each. At the Tour of California, as is usual, you will see the ProTour teams listed on the roster before the Pro Continental or Continental teams.

Peter Sagan will wear #1 on his jersey at the Tour of California. He will be racing hard in 2016 to wear #1 again in 2017.

10 May 2016

Classification Jerseys for the Amgen Tour of California 2016 are awarded for best type of rider in a field. This year the Tour of California will feature 5 classifications: Leader (fastest overall time, yellow/gold jersey, also called GC); Mountain (climber, red polka dot jersey); Sprint (fastest sprinter, green jersey); Best Young Rider (under age 25, white jersey); Most Courageous (most combative/competitive, blue Breakaway from Cancer jersey).

Look for these jerseys on the road or on the TV: yellow, green, polka-dot, white and blue. The competition for the classification jerseys begins on day one: Stage 1 in San Diego.

Classification jerseys 2016 Tour of California

As the stage race progresses the overall classification winner is presented with his jersey on the podium after each stage and will wear the jersey at the start of the next day's stage.

Peter Sagan won the Tour of California last year and will be returning to the ATOC again in 2016. Peter Sagan is also the current World Champion and wears the rainbow striped jersey in every road race.Peter is also the current Slovakian National Road Champion and Time Trial Champion (he's had a good year!). At the start of Stage 1, Peter will be wearing his rainbow jersey at the start line.

What if Peter Sagan wins Stage 1 in San Diego,will Peter wear the Amgen yellow leaders jersey or will he wear his rainbow jersey? UCI rules state that the race leaders jersey trumps the rainbow jersey,so at the Tour of California and other UCI pro races, Peter would wear the yellow leader's jersey on the road, or the green sprinters jersey, if he earns either of those jerseys after any stage of the race.

Otherwise we will see Peter Sagan in his white and rainbow striped jersey (which is equally thrilling). However, when Peter steps onto the start ramp at the Folsom time trial, don't be surprised if you see him in his Slovakian National time trial skinsuit. Unless he is in the lead in a classification and he will wear the leader's yellow or the sprinter's green jersey, made into a special skinsuit just for him.

This is the order of priority of jerseys. On the podium, the stage winners are awarded before the classification winners. Sometimes the jerseys are awarded out of order on the podium if a rider is late in arriving, but the yellow jersey is always awarded last.

What if Peter is ahead in both the overall(yellow) classification and the sprinter (green) classification - which jersey will he wear?

According to UCI rules there is a specific order of priority of jerseys. The classification jerseys take precedence in order of yellow, green, polka-dot, white. If a rider is already in a more prominent jersey and has earned one or more other jerseys, he will be awarded with all his jerseys on the podium, but will wear the more prominent jersey at the start of the next stage. His other jersey would go to the second-place rider in that specific jersey classification, who would wear the jersey the next day during the race. Because a rider can only wear one jersey at a time, and because every race organizer wants to have all five jerseys be seen during each stage of the race. So don't be confused if you read that one rider won a classification but another rider shows up wearing his jersey at the stage start on the next morning.

UCI rules: should various provisions requiring the wearing of different jerseys apply to the same rider, the order of priority shall be as follows:

1. the leader’s jersey of the stage race (yellow)
2. the leader’s jersey of the cup, series, or UCI classification
3. the world champion’s jersey
4. the continental champion’s jersey
5. the national champion’s jersey
6. the national jersey

In summary the World Champion jersey trumps any National Champion jersey, but the World Championship jersey is trumped by the race classification jerseys. Peter Sagan is serious about defending his overall race leaders jersey again this year. I am looking for Peter to be wearing yellow ... or green ... or rainbow, he looks great in them all.

As the stage progresses the first riders over the KOM marker (mountain points) will be tallied to award the first polka-dot jersey. The youngest riders (under age 25) will be tracked to award the white jersey. There are two sprint markers on route of Stage 1 but the finish line is also considered. Look for the rider vying for the green jersey to sprint at the markers in Navajo Road and Imperial Beach to attempt to weed out the field for the green jersey. It is possible that the first and second place finishers on Stage 1 will wear the yellow (1st place) and green (2nd place), it depends on the motivation and plans of each sprinter.

WHO DECIDES ON THE MOST COURAGEOUS RIDER?

This is a subjective award decided on by a panel of "experts" (read important people) gathered to acknowledge effort and courage displayed during the day's stage. This is not an accumulated classification but a spotlight on an different individual every stage and the awarding sponsor of the most courageous/aggressive/combative lime-light hogging jersey.

HOW IS THE BEST TEAM DECIDED?

The best team of the tour is determined by the lowest accumulated time. They get to celebrate wildly with champagne on the final podium. The accumulated team time is calculated based on the total time of the first three riders across the line from each team, each day (not the highest 3 on GC). This accounts for the entire team effort on climbs, sprints and time trials to be considered. Each day those three rider times are added to the next day's three riders with the lowest times, the times accumulate for all 8 stages, and the lowest team time wins the title.

Because World Championships are awarded in road racing, individual time trial and team time trial, each jersey must, and can only, be worn during the specific cycling discipline.

The current winner of the World Champion Time Trial, Vasil Kiryienka (Belarus) racing on Team SKY, must wear the time trial skinsuit during every ITT and TTT competition for a year following his win. Peter Sagan, the current Road Champion, cannot wear the rainbow striped jersey during any time trial stage.

All riders who have earned a National Championship Time Trial may wear their national colors skinsuit during the time trial.

The current Team World Time Trial Champions, BMC Racing Team, wear a small UCI rainbow emblem on the front of their jerseys year round, during both road and ITT or TTT stages.

BMC TTT logo on their jerseys

Time trial stages do not typically award KOM points. The polka-dot jerseys earned by a rider after Stage 5, in this year's Tour of California, will be worn at the start of Stage 7 in Santa Rosa.

Yes, all classification jerseys are worn during the time trial (with special skinsuits often made for the riders.

BIB NUMBERS

We call them race numbers here in the United States. Bike racers know them as bib numbers, European bike racers as dossard. They are the numbers identifying a racer worn on his or her jersey and on their bike.

There is a meaning to the bib numbers (dossards) worn by each rider on a team: read more about the bib number at Word of the Day: Dossard , By Pedal Dancer.

It is tradition that the previous year's overall stage winner, if returning to the race in the current year, wear the #1 on his jersey. His team being recognized as the first team, thus his teammates wear #2-8. The other teams are ordered according to race organizers preference; eighteen teams total with eight riders each. At the Tour of California, as is usual, you will see the WorldTour teams listed before the Pro Continental or Continental teams wearing lower bib numbers.

The 2016 startlist should be announced (hopefully) within 2-48 hours. Anticipation!

Over the years my race photography has improved with a lot of practice. What I have learned is that great photos are more about the eye, and the opportunity, than the equipment. When it comes to equipment I use it all from an iphone, a compact Sony camera, to my large Pentax with numerous lenses.

I like getting the unusual shot, taking close-ups(zoom), and capturing a moment between fans, riders, coaches, reactions, exhaustion, excitement. Go broad to capture the mood and setting, but zoom into capture human subjects.

My biggest tip is to see the race with your own eyes. Get as many photos as you can of yourself and your family and friends at the race. Take a sweeping video of you enjoying the scene at the race. And share those on social media. But when the race actually comes, put down the camera and WATCH IT. Peter Sagan or Taylor Phinney might only pass you once and you will miss looking into their faces if you are looking into your camera.

It also pays to know how to move around at a bike race. I often arrive early to map out how to get to and from different key areas of the race. Good shots can be gotten near the teams buses, near the sign-in stage before the start, at the start ramp of time trials or on the corners, or in the area just past the finish line where riders stop to meet their soigneurs post race. Or out on the road at KOM markers where the riders slow down slightly at the passes and the atmosphere is fun.

At race starts, I admit I set the camera on auto and use the zoom extensively. Because I spin constantly to react to riders approaching and leaving, taking in different light and length in shots, I let the camera do its thing and put my time into recognizing the riders and who I want to capture: who I think might be in the break, might win, might be the next big thing, or of interest to the fans.

At other times I experiment with focus and either bring the whole picture into view or blur out the background to highlight the subject. I take lots of photos, most aren't so great, but plenty are fine. I have learned it is all about the light in fast bike racing, especially in Colorado, I like the northwest facing corners.

Also read: Jim Fryer and Iri Greco of Brake Through Media who write a fantastic series for VeloNews titled The Shot about how they achieve iconic images of the races in Europe.

How did I get this shot? I sat on the ground, on the dirty pavement, and watched the winner of the 2015 Tour of California pass by as I pushed the shutter button. My work was easy, Peter Sagan's hard work won him the race!

I get to wear a fancy PHOTO badge that flips and spins in the wind and gets tangled up in my camera straps. I also get to wear the most unbecoming numbered blue vest (if I am deemed worthy in the great pecking order of photographers) that many a photographer has sweated in prior to my own wearing of the vest. There is an unspoken dress code among photographers that we wear black or khaki, which gets really hot on sunny days and appears so boring in the midst of all the colorful fans. I think we wear black because we are not supposed to stand out (as if the camera focuses in on us anyway). There are other norms I had to learn, like who stands where in the pack at finish lines or podium presentations. The yellow bib photographers are like mini-gods, I must give respect to the yellow-bibs, those who are more 'accomplished' and arrive late to the pack at the finish line on the back of motorcycles (really they are just bigger than me ... and more serious).

Basically photographing a pro bike race is juggling a series of implied laws yet trying to be unique within the boundaries. The pressure is intense, the fun is great, the reward is memorable.

In response to the intensity, I introduced the smile.

I can say it took me five years to melt the ice with that smile. Five years of smiling and getting to know people, making friends, not stepping on toes and being really really nice. All while moving around the venue like a banshee set on discovering the next great photograph or story. At times I feel intrusive by snapping photos of strangers, but I have enjoyed recognizing the riders and seeing their growth throughout their careers. For me, it really is about discovering what makes a particular competition excellent. Finding the stories in the people, discovering a new perspective and sharing my enthusiasm by participating in a sport I love.

Without the fans the sport of cycling would be so dull. If the riders do not notice the beautiful scenery they race through, they certainly remember which towns had huge crowds. My purpose in conjunction with the race is to help the crowds gather. To tell the story of the fan.

​I look forward to attending the 11th Amgen Tour of California.

How did I become Media?

I had to apply through an application form for media. I had to prove I worked for a publication which shone a positive light on the event and reached a community of old and new followers. I first got up the nerve to apply in 2011 when I realized, hey I am already promoting this race (for free), I want better access. I later discovered that a "photo" badge would get me into far more places than a "media" badge (there is a difference and it is printed on the badge). I can always do the job of media while photographing a story, but since I started as a writer I had to up my game in photography. Pictures might be worth a thousand words, but I have come back to the truth that the story matters. The story is the race. And the fans and sponsors who support the race by showing up.

What it is like being Media at the race?

Firstly, I had to drop my old habits of jumping barriers, hanging out with family and asking anybody the silliest questions. I had to remind myself not to ask Mark Cavendish, who was standing right in front of me, for an autograph, because 'Media' persons don't that. I do however have a tradition of asking the overall winner to sign my badge after the last press conference. I keep them, hanging in my bike room, which is covered with cycling memorabilia.

I have had the experience, on a number of occasions, of riding inside the Media car during the race along the race route. Let me tell you, it is true what they say - it is crazy out there on the road with motos zipping this way and that and the race radio reporting in multiple languages. But most of the people in motion following the peloton have a history together; they are experienced and they know the procedures and roads. Steve and Terry who have driven the two Media cars for many years in the major American Tour races are excellent drivers (Terry being an ex-racer himself).

Life on the road as one of the many photojournalists chasing the race, is a series of very long days of scouting out the stage, planning on the map where to get shots, capturing 1000s of photos, being severely dehydrated, rushing to the podium, maybe to the post-stage press conference, downloading, editing, posting, writing, finding food somewhere,driving to the next town, unpacking, packing and trying desperately to keep up with what is happening in the real race. The race becomes what is happening in front of my square footage view unless I read social media or other news reports. It is exhausting, but everyone stays in good mood knowing we need each other to get through the week, stage after stage.

Ideally I think it takes a crew of three to really cover a stage race well. A driver, a navigator, a planner/reader of race happenings. And definitely two out of three need an excellent sense of humor, patience and a love of adventure; maybe all three.

The type of stories I write need a light-hearted human and humorous approach. I try not to let the physical exhaustion over-power the pure giddy excitement I feel about being at a bike race. I love pro cycling, I love that there are so many moving parts and so much more to learn about the sport. I love that the competition is so unknown and yet the best riders, who often know each other well, and perhaps have been teammates on other teams, put all aside and try their very best to win the race, because each race is a new chance to prove themselves as a champion.

Tour de France 2016

Coverage of the Tour de France may be seen at TourChaser.com. A brand new website by Pedal Dancer® for spectators and fans of pro racing. Please follow along - Tour Chaser is a cycling resource for those who watch pro races from home, along the barricade or on the roadside.

Pedal Dancer®

Inspiring cyclists and travelers A bike travel blog for travelers, cyclists and cycling fans. Covering Colorado, France, Tour de France, Spring Classics in Belgium, Cycling Events and more. Pedal Dancer Bike Calendars serve the community. Pedal Dancer blog is a resource light on opinion and heavy on information and joy of the sport.